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9 Ways to Add Character to a New-build Living Room
Play with shape and colour or bring in your hobbies and interests to make your mark in a new home
If you’re moving into a new-build property, chances are your living room will be a standard rectangle with white walls. So how do you make it yours? Thankfully, there are lots of ways to let your personality shine through: pick a unique piece of furniture; bring in your favourite art; make a statement with light or colour, or carve out space for your hobbies or favourite books.
How you choose to set up your living room says a lot about who you are, so it’s the perfect place to start putting your personal stamp on a home. Here are some ideas to get you started.
More in this series: 8 Ways to Add Character to a New-build Kitchen l 7 Ways to Add Character to a New-build Bedroom l 8 Ways to Add Character to a New-build Garden
How you choose to set up your living room says a lot about who you are, so it’s the perfect place to start putting your personal stamp on a home. Here are some ideas to get you started.
More in this series: 8 Ways to Add Character to a New-build Kitchen l 7 Ways to Add Character to a New-build Bedroom l 8 Ways to Add Character to a New-build Garden
2. Choose statement seating
The sofa and armchairs are the centrepieces of most living rooms, so why not go for something a bit different to add character?
Try bringing in welcoming curves and echoing them across several elements in the room, as in this scheme by A New Day Interior Design Studio. Or make a statement with sculptural pieces, introduce colourful accents, or include vintage items to contrast with the contemporary feel of your home.
Updating your living room? Find interior designers on Houzz.
The sofa and armchairs are the centrepieces of most living rooms, so why not go for something a bit different to add character?
Try bringing in welcoming curves and echoing them across several elements in the room, as in this scheme by A New Day Interior Design Studio. Or make a statement with sculptural pieces, introduce colourful accents, or include vintage items to contrast with the contemporary feel of your home.
Updating your living room? Find interior designers on Houzz.
3. Add eye-catching tables
Coffee tables, side tables and sideboards are another great way to add visual interest and drama. The two cylindrical coffee tables in this living room by Space Shack provide a contrast to the straight lines and angles of the rest of the design. The concrete-look finishes also balance the dominant wood and fabric in the space.
Don’t forget that what’s on the tables can be as important as the tables themselves. Here, the vases and books on the sideboard echo the lines and curves of the rest of the space.
Coffee tables, side tables and sideboards are another great way to add visual interest and drama. The two cylindrical coffee tables in this living room by Space Shack provide a contrast to the straight lines and angles of the rest of the design. The concrete-look finishes also balance the dominant wood and fabric in the space.
Don’t forget that what’s on the tables can be as important as the tables themselves. Here, the vases and books on the sideboard echo the lines and curves of the rest of the space.
4. Tie everything together with a rug
The rug in this living room by Ahrberg Jackson Design helps complete the colour-drenching in the space, pulling the sage green from the ceiling and walls. It also zones the open-plan space and visually unites the two sofas and TV unit to create a cosy living space.
Choose a modern design like this, or a more traditional style, such as a classic Persian rug or a Beni Ourain. Explore textures, piles and fabrics. Natural fibres such as sisal are a great option for adding a calming, natural touch in the space – take a look at the next photo for a good example.
The rug in this living room by Ahrberg Jackson Design helps complete the colour-drenching in the space, pulling the sage green from the ceiling and walls. It also zones the open-plan space and visually unites the two sofas and TV unit to create a cosy living space.
Choose a modern design like this, or a more traditional style, such as a classic Persian rug or a Beni Ourain. Explore textures, piles and fabrics. Natural fibres such as sisal are a great option for adding a calming, natural touch in the space – take a look at the next photo for a good example.
5. Pick beautiful lighting
Having the right lighting is key to creating the all-important mood in a living room. In this scheme by Dekkobird Design, the gorgeous vintage floor lamp and beaded chandelier set the vintage, eclectic feel.
Note the layers of light in this space: the two lamps offer cosy light for reading as an alternative to the brighter central pendant.
Discover why you should hire a professional who uses Houzz Pro software.
Having the right lighting is key to creating the all-important mood in a living room. In this scheme by Dekkobird Design, the gorgeous vintage floor lamp and beaded chandelier set the vintage, eclectic feel.
Note the layers of light in this space: the two lamps offer cosy light for reading as an alternative to the brighter central pendant.
Discover why you should hire a professional who uses Houzz Pro software.
6. Lean into bespoke joinery
Bespoke shelving, TV units or built-in sideboards are a great way to carve out storage space that perfectly suits your needs, while setting a strong decorative tone.
The stunning dark wood shelving unit in this living room by Rider Stirland Architects brings in an Art Nouveau flair that gives this room an instant visual and stylistic anchor and brings a sense of period elegance into the new space.
Bespoke shelving, TV units or built-in sideboards are a great way to carve out storage space that perfectly suits your needs, while setting a strong decorative tone.
The stunning dark wood shelving unit in this living room by Rider Stirland Architects brings in an Art Nouveau flair that gives this room an instant visual and stylistic anchor and brings a sense of period elegance into the new space.
7. Curate your belongings to give your living room a lived-in feel
Intentional clutter is a trend for living rooms this year and it’s perfect for making a brand-new space feel lived-in, creating the feel of decor that’s been carefully curated over years.
Look at this living room by Bertolini Architects, for instance. The stacked artwork, curated vases and other objets, plus the deliberate but plentiful selection of coffee table books, make the space feel loved and welcoming.
Intentional clutter is a trend for living rooms this year and it’s perfect for making a brand-new space feel lived-in, creating the feel of decor that’s been carefully curated over years.
Look at this living room by Bertolini Architects, for instance. The stacked artwork, curated vases and other objets, plus the deliberate but plentiful selection of coffee table books, make the space feel loved and welcoming.
8. Express yourself through artwork
There’s a lot to love in this living room by Ahrberg Jackson Design, from the midcentury sofa – and its layered fabrics – to the busy bookcase. But it’s the paintings on the gallery wall behind the sofa that really steal the show.
If you don’t have the budget for paintings or other pieces of original art, prints can work just as well to set the scene in a space. Just remember to select prints you actually love – and not only trending posters – to ensure your living room reflects your personality.
There’s a lot to love in this living room by Ahrberg Jackson Design, from the midcentury sofa – and its layered fabrics – to the busy bookcase. But it’s the paintings on the gallery wall behind the sofa that really steal the show.
If you don’t have the budget for paintings or other pieces of original art, prints can work just as well to set the scene in a space. Just remember to select prints you actually love – and not only trending posters – to ensure your living room reflects your personality.
9. Showcase your hobbies
There’s no better way to put your stamp on a space than filling it with your favourite things. If you play piano, you have no choice but to incorporate it into your decor, but this goes for other hobbies, too.
Hang up your guitar and display your vinyl collection, as in this living room by Vorbild Architecture; frame and hang your needlepoint, or fill your living room with books.
Tell us…
How have you let your personality shine through in your living room? Share your ideas and photos in the Comments.
There’s no better way to put your stamp on a space than filling it with your favourite things. If you play piano, you have no choice but to incorporate it into your decor, but this goes for other hobbies, too.
Hang up your guitar and display your vinyl collection, as in this living room by Vorbild Architecture; frame and hang your needlepoint, or fill your living room with books.
Tell us…
How have you let your personality shine through in your living room? Share your ideas and photos in the Comments.
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Bold colour is a great way to give a living room a richer, warmer mood, particularly if you plan to use the space mostly in the evenings. In this scheme by Run for the Hills, the deep blue-grey walls create a cocooning feeling, while the burnt orange sofa provides a punch of contrast.
You can bring in further colour through soft furnishings, like the cushions and rug in this room. If you choose numerous colours, though, prevent the the scheme from being overwhelming by repeating each colour in a few other places, such as on a lamp shade and artwork, for example.
Here, the woodwork has been painted white, but for further cosiness, consider colour-drenching the room, with the woodwork and walls all painted in the same rich shade.
More: 6 Ways to Colour Drench Your Living Room